US Kashmiris protest Kashmir killings outside UN headquarters

Publish Date: 18-07-16 8:12 PM

New York, July 18 (PTI): Non Resident Kashmiris (NRKs) have held demonstrations outside the premises of India’s Permanent Mission to the UN here protesting against the Indian forces in the Valley and demanding UN intervention in the Kashmir issue.
The Kashmir American Council led the three-hour protests yesterday attended by women and children as well.
Holding banners and placards that read ‘Indian Forces Out of Kashmir’, ‘No Democracy Without Self-Determination’ and ‘Time to Resolve Kashmir Dispute Now’, the protesters shouted slogans demanding “freedom” for Kashmir and its people.

The demonstrators also raised slogans in support of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The US and other western countries must intervene to stop the human rights violations in Kashmir,” Shaheen Khalid Butt, Chairman of the Kashmir Mission USA, said.

Ghulam Nabi Fai of World Kashmir Awareness said India and Pakistan must sit at the negotiating table “without any condition from any party” and keep “their horizon open” to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute.

The protesters, demonstrating a few yards away from the UN headquarters, also demanded intervention by the world body to settle the Kashmir issue.

Toronto, Canada

In Toronto ,hundreds of Canadians from all walks of life gathered outside the Indian Consulate in Toronto denouncing Indian army crimes against innocent Kashmiris.

Organized by the Friends of Kashmir, the rally was attended by the Canadians of different backgrounds including many of Kashmiri and Pakistani origins, and also a large number of Sikhs and other Canadians.

They not only raised slogans against Indian crimes but speakers also drew attention to the decades-long oppression of Kashmiris by the brutal Indian army. It was repeatedly emphasized that Kashmir was not part of India and had never been. There are several UN Security Council resolutions calling for a referendum in Kashmir.

Today, India maintains an army of occupation of more than 700,000 of which some 300,000 are stationed in Srinagar, the capital city. This makes Srinagar the most militarized city in the world with one soldier for every three civilians.

Toronto rally organizers also called upon the Canadian government to take note of these Indian crimes and demanded that sanctions be imposed on India to force it to comply with international law and Security Council resolutions. They also called upon the Canadian prime minister to cancel his forthcoming visit to India until it fulfills its international obligations.

The rally participants and organizers vowed to continue their protests until Kashmir achieves its freedom from the clutches of the brutal Indian army.